One lump or two? Black tea may reduce diabetes risk, study shows

While a cup of black tea with milk and sugar is the preferred method of caffeine intake in the United Kingdom, America has long been the land of coffee drinkers. However, that may change as word spreads that people who drink more tea may be less likely to develop type 2 diabetes, according to a recent study.

Thanks in part to increasing obesity rates, diabetes has become a serious medical concern across the country. The American Diabetes Association estimates that 18.8 million people had been diagnosed with diabetes by 2011, and a further 7 million were diabetic but not receiving treatment. In addition 79 million individuals are reportedly suffering from pre-diabetes – the preliminary stage of the condition.

When researchers from the Data Mining International in Geneva, Switzerland began reviewing medical trends from 50 countries around the world, their aim was to determine whether drinking black tea had an effect not just on diabetes rates, but on the prevalence of cancer as well as heart and respiratory diseases.

Various news outlets report that the research team found a clear link between the amount of black tea consumed in various populations and the number of people diagnosed with diabetes. In countries like the United Kingdom, Ireland and Turkey, for instance, there were fewer registered cases of the disorder than in Mexico, South Korea and other countries where drinking black tea was not a cultural norm.

Though there are too many other factors at play for the analysts to conclude that drinking black tea actively reduces risk, it is common knowledge that diet and diabetes are inextricably linked. Because obesity can increase the chance of developing diabetes, along with other life-impairing diseases, Longevity Centres of America offer medical weight loss in Denver and Houston for people who have tried to shed pounds via diet and exercise, but need extra help to live well and age gracefully.